All-new lineup
India’s biggest motor show, Bharat Mobility Global Expo, is set to kickstart in the national capital next week. The annual show (January 17-22) will see everything from car and bike launches to fresh concepts as well as new-age tech on display. Talking specifically about the car launches, many manufacturers will bring key products to the show and here are some of the more significant ones.
Hyundai Creta Electric
India’s most popular SUV is going electric at this year’s edition. The mid-sized SUV has been a bestseller for more than a decade and the Korean carmaker would be hoping that the electric version takes that success story forward. The Creta electric looks largely similar to the ICE version, though it gets a new grille with active flaps and different looking 17-inch aero alloy wheels.
Two battery-pack versions will be on offer — a larger 51.4 kWh pack with a range of 473 km, while a smaller 42 kWh unit will be good for 390 km in one charge. The EV will get vehicle-to-load technology along with a digital key while many other features from the Creta are expected to find a place here as well. It will also get colour options not seen on the SUV before, including an Ocean Blue choice which will also come with a dual tone.
Maruti Suzuki e-Vitara
Another popular car in the mid-sized SUV space is taking the leap from hybrid to electric at the show. The Grand Vitara was first launched in 2021 and just over three years later, the country’s largest car brand will take the wraps off its electric version. The e-Vitara will be the first electric offering from Maruti Suzuki in its decades-long journey in India and will be manufactured at Suzuki’s new plant in Gujarat. Here, too, two battery packs are likely to be offered — 49 kWh and the larger 61 kWh. The brand may also offer an all-wheel drive called AllGrip-e, seen on the SUV’s European version which made its debut last year. The cabin has two freestanding displays along with a generous use of physical buttons as well as soft-touch materials. A facelift of Grand Vitara petrol could also be unveiled at the show.
MG Cyberster
A car that is sure to make waves at the Bharat Mobility Expo is the MG Cyberster. The two-door electric roadster was first showcased in India in early 2024, and now the brand will launch it in the market via its new premium retail chain called MG Select. Highlights of the Cyberster are its scissor doors and a folding soft top.
The cabin is unique, too, with a triple screen setup just for the driver, which includes twin 7-inch screens apart from a larger digital cluster.
The Cyberster is going to arrive in India with just a dual-motor setup which will make 528 bhp and 725 Nm. The 77 kWh battery pack will come with a claimed range of 580 km on one charge. The EV can go from 0-100 kmph in just 3.2 seconds.
Tata Sierra EV
The biggest showcase from Tata Motors at the Bharat Mobility Expo this time is also likely to be an EV. The iconic Sierra nameplate from the 1990s is returning to roads in an electric form this time around, the concept of which was shown at the previous Auto Expo in 2023.
The SUV may retain some design cues from the previous car like the blacked out C & D pillars, but there could be a healthy presence of modern elements as well; for example, connected tail lamps, gloss black cladding and prominent wheel arches.
While the actual launch may take place a few months later, it will be the first time that a production-spec version of the SUV can be seen in flesh. Tata Motors hasn’t yet revealed the specifications of the EV, but both single motor and dual motor variants might be offered. Petrol and diesel models of the Sierra will also be launched at a later stage.
Mercedes-Benz Electric G-Wagen
It’s no surprise that the top five cars to be showcased at the upcoming Bharat Mobility Expo will all be electric. We could complete this list with the most iconic off-roader in the world which is coming to India in an electric avatar. Though Mercedes-Benz launched the G580 a few days before the show, it will indeed be the biggest highlight at the German carmaker’s stall at Bharat Mandapam. The SUV will see the use of one of the biggest battery packs seen on an EV in India, with the 116 kWh unit helping make 579 bhp and 1164 Nm. The luxury brand claims a range of 473 km on a single charge on the SUV. The design cues and cabin are in line with the G-class and the iconic silhouette will remain the same.
Car aficionados can also look forward to many more exciting set of wheels at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo. Czech brand Skoda will showcase its new 2025 lineup, which will include the much awaited Octavia RS and Kylaq compact SUV, while Japanese carmaker Toyota is expected to showcase new advancements in hybrid tech. Mahindra will show an extensive lineup, including its latest EVs — BE 6 and XEV 9e, while Kia will display its latest launch in India, Syros, for the first time.
Chinese company BYD and Vietnamese manufacturer Vinfast will also be present with a comprehensive range of EVs. Finally, BMW is expected to launch the new-gen X3 at the show.
— The writer is associated with carandbike.com
